Awareness returned to Andy like the opening curtains of a theater stage.  With the Moonlight Sonata playing in his ear buds, he examined his surroundings.  He was standing in the middle of the road, next to one of the hundreds of bright yellow armadillos dotting the Texas highway.  It was almost pitch black.

     He looked down at his feet and saw his yellow Pluto house shoes.  He lifted his left foot and wiggled it slightly and smiled at the floppy ears as they flew about.  He was wearing his blue plaid pajamas and holding his mp3 player in his hand. 

     He looked up at the stars shining like beacons in the night sky; admiring the moon just at the edge of the horizon.

     "Oh man," the words didn't come easy, "I must have died in my sleep."

     He looked up and saw a bright light in the distance.

     "That must be my destination."

     With the sounds of Piano Sonata Opus 27 No.2, "Moonlight", 1st Movement, blaring in his ears, he turned and walked into the light.

     His last thought was a fast one; the truck slammed into him at sixty-five miles an hour, and there was fairly little time to think, "Damn... sleep walking again."

     It was then that the curtains closed on the performance of Andy's Life.

*   *   *

     Awareness returned to Andy like the opening curtains of a theater stage.  It was quiet.  He stood in the middle of the road, next to one of the hundreds of bright yellow armadillos dotting the Texas highway.  It was pitch black.

     He looked down at his feet and saw his yellow Pluto house shoes; smiled at the floppy ears.  He was wearing his blue plaid pajamas. 

     He looked up at the stars shining like beacons in the night sky; admiring the moon just at the edge of the horizon.  As his eyesight came level with the earth he saw a bright, unimaginably beautiful tunnel of light.  Like a moth to a patio light he was pulled in the direction of the light.  The tunnel was calling to him.

     Remembering his previous experience, he immediately turned and ran into the darkness... 

Keyword: afterlife

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Comments (12)

Posted by JJtyler 2008-07-30 22:40:17 No ipods in the after life? Armadillos often have leprosy. They were around a lot more before the fire ants took over down here in the lone star state. I liked the transition. A good quick story, with a clever ending. Good luck and keep writing brother. + Report this comment
Posted by C.R. Vard 2008-07-30 22:42:56 .... great story, but i do hope i have my iPod in the afterlife ;). a quick story but the length was perfect for the situation...im not sure how to expand it and i dont think it could be shorter. + Report this comment
Posted by philneale1952 2008-07-31 01:36:18 Bad Luck Nice little story. I suppose inevitability could have kicked in by him colliding with another vehicle coming from the opposite direction, but hey it's your tale and a good one at that. Phil + Report this comment
Posted by lemon 2008-07-31 11:03:33 .... Good story. I had to laugh at the end when he raced off into the darkness. At least he learned from his past experiences like so many are NOT apt to do haha. =] + Report this comment
Posted by Something Indecent 2008-07-31 18:16:43 .... That was pretty clever. I like how the two different sections started the same way. It almost made it surreal. I also love the ending with him running to the darkness. It was an amusing end to an interesting story. + Report this comment
Posted by Zombie Punk 2008-07-31 19:42:34 .... Good choice with the Beethoven, i have Moonlight Sonata on my mp3 player, too. I thought this was a good, mysterious short read. I couldn't help but chuckle at the end with him running back into the darkness. Kudos on a job well done, Sir Mugwump! + Report this comment
Posted by The 13th 2008-08-01 16:30:37 .... Yeah, the end was amusing . This is a perfect peice of flash fiction Sir Tarhead. + Report this comment
Posted by r.e.potter 2008-08-01 21:30:51 blinded by the light man, glad im not the only one making bad choices. This was a great lil piece to end my night with. Could also make a funny skit from MAD TV or SNL. Now watch me sleep walk into the road now that this is etched in my mind. I remember this story from before and its still just as good....and short...I like that in a story when its late and i wanna go to bed. good stuff. + Report this comment
Posted by harmattan 2008-08-02 09:34:30 lessons learned Well mugwump, I had to get round to reading you sooner than later Wanted to see if any squirrels peeped from behind your nuts! Loved the earbuds bit that is clever. You have such an economy of words and such an obtuse view of fairly normal things which I can only envy. I get to alot more of your stuff soon Thanks Kind Regards harmattan + Report this comment
Posted by allmine 2008-08-13 09:47:52 .... And what Texas highway was he on that there were yellow armadillos? Shit I have lived here 15 plus years and have never even seen a live armadillo! You have to most interesting ideas, and the most unusual plot twists. Is this where I tell you to write on? Hahahaha + Report this comment
Posted by Tarhead Mugwump 2008-08-13 14:38:02 oh no!! don't let the "only texans in texas" committee find out! baby armadillos is texas speak for the little humpity lane separators they use on the highway... yes, write on! + Report this comment
Posted by kimberly 2008-11-08 08:37:18 lessons learned this an amazing short read. such an imagination... that's what you call talent. continue writing. readers are waiting. :) + Report this comment

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